New Senate Minority whip John Cornyn of Texas, left, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012. From left are, Cornyn, as Sen, John Barrasso, R-Wyo., John Thune, R-S.D., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

The Child Protection Act of 2012, approved by the Senate this week, will protect “innocent young people” from “the most vile criminals,” Texas Sen. John Cornyn said yesterday.

Cornyn, a San Antonio Republican, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, were the chief authors of the bipartisan proposal. Both are former state attorneys general.

Cornyn said the measure includes several important anti-human trafficking provisions proposed by him, which were originally included in the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2011.

“We need to provide law enforcement with every tool they need to crack down on the most vile criminals – child sex predators and traffickers – and protect the innocent young people who fall victim to these heinous crimes,” Cornyn wrote in a press release announcing the passage of the bill.

Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) were joined by Jada Pinkett Smith on Wednesday Nov. 14 as they announced the launch of the Senate Caucus to End Human Trafficking. (Jana Kasperkevic/Houston Chronicle)

“This is an example that Congress can actually get some important things done and I am delighted that after working on this issue for several years we were able to break through this week. And I hope the president will signs it quickly, which I believe he will,” Cornyn said.

The bill was also introduced by Blumenthal, who previously referred to human trafficking as a “spoke on the wheel” for other criminal activity, such as drug trafficking, immigration, and prostitution. Earlier this month, Blumenthal and Rob Portman, Republican Senator from Ohio, announced the formation of Senate Caucus to End Human Trafficking. Thirteen other senators, including Cornyn, joined the Caucus on the day of its creation.